Improvement in torpedoes and cartridges



E. GOMEZ.

Torpedo No. 100,884. Patented March 15, I870.

PETERS, PNOTO-L THOGRAPHER, WASHINGYON. D (tv 1;; strut Mire.

EDWIN GOMEZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 100,884, dated March 15, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN TORPEDOES AND CARTRIDGES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part or the same To all whom at may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN GOMEZ, of the city and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use a certain new and useful Improvement in Torpedoes and Cartridges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, reference being bad tothe annexed drawing making part of this specification, wherein I have represented a vertical or longitudinal section of my improved cartridge.

The object of my invention is to produce an instantaneous and perfect combustion of the whole of the powder in aQtorpedo or cartridge, in order that the whole eifcct of the powder may be obtained and none of the powder be blown away or be unconsumed.

The nature of my said invention consists in a case having a quick-firing fuse coiled around inside of it before the gunpowder is introduced; said coil of fuse burning with much greater rapidity than gunpowder, fills the entire case with a flame, that, passing between the grains of gunpowder, causes their instantaneous combustion, and all the grains of powder exploding at the same time produce a much more sudden and irresistible explosion than the same amount of powder burnt in the usual manner; this cartridge or torpedo being particularly adapted to blasting or to use in oil-' wells for opening the crevices for the flow of the oil or other liquid.

In the drawing- 7 It represents the case, which may be of light, cheap material, such as pasteboard or woodyand when the. cartridge or torpedo is to be used under water the case is to be rendered water-proof by any suitable varnish or covering.

The fuse is formed of detonating powder or quick-- burning powder, such as set forth in Letters Patent granted tome August 9, 1859, and said fuse is to be coated with India rubber, gutta-percha, or similarwater-proof material when it is to be used under water.

The fuse is led in through one end of the case a and formed into a coil, 7), within said case, and in order that the fuse may retain its proper place with its coils about the same distance apart, I make use of a wire, as at c, twisted around the pliable fuse previous to its being wound into a coil and inserted into the cartridgecase. This wire might be introduced inside the fuse itself while in the process of manufacture.

After the coil of fuse is in place the gunpowder is to be poured intothe case and the open end secured by a proper disk or head.

By this construction the cases can be prepared and not filled with powder until required for use.

When this fuse is exploded or fired the case of the fuse is torn to pieces by the pressure of the flame, and said flame flashes in among the grains of powder, producing an instantaneous explosion of every particle.

The fuse may be led to any convenient place and fired either by a slow-match or by the direct application of fire, and in case of a torpedo, either for a well or below water, the fuse may be led to the surface, or a cap may be used, said cap communicating to the fuse introduced into the nipple receiving the cap.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-- Acartridge or torpedo formed with a quick-firing fuse coiled around within the powder-case, for the purposes and as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 7th day of January, A. D. 1867.

v EDWIN GOMEZ,

Witnesses Gee. I. PINCKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH. 

